Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Escambia County superintendent vows to hold graduation ceremony eventually

Escambia County School District Superintendent Malcolm Thomas has pledged the district will do everything in its power to hold a graduation ceremony for high school seniors this year, though the event could be delayed as late as July due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"At this point, it doesn't look like it's very hopeful that we would hold a commencement at the end of May," Thomas said at a press conference Thursday with other Escambia County officials. "But I have said since the beginning, we're going to do whatever we can do to make sure a graduation ceremony is held."

Thomas said he believed the district could wait as late as July to hold a ceremony and the majority of students would likely still be in the community. But with so much uncertainty, Thomas said officials will wait to make any decisions on a date, location or any other details surrounding a ceremony.

To provide our community with important public safety information, our newsroom is making stories related to the coronavirus free to read. To support important local journalism like this, please consider becoming a digital subscriber.

"I will tell you this, we will do something to make sure we honor our seniors who've spent their life thus far preparing for that moment where they can walk across a stage in a cap and gown, have a picture taken and receive a diploma," he said. "We know that's important and we're going to support that in any way we can."

Florida public schools, including those in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, will remain out of school until May 1 in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Remote learning started this week for many Escambia County students, and Thomas on Thursday thanked parents and teachers for their "cooperative spirit" during the transition.

"I want to give a shout-out to all of the teachers and school staff for all of your hard work this week to try to do something we've never tried to do before, and that is to teach 40,000 students that are not sitting inside a classroom," he said.

Staff on Thursday were wrapping up distribution of Chromebooks to students in kindergarten through second grades for remote learning.

Thomas said district staff are also trying to find solutions for students without internet access at home, including offering physical workbooks and textbooks, as well as pre-planned lessons on a flash drive.

At this point, school staff have tried to reach out to every family to share plans for remote learning, so parents who have not yet been contacted by their student's teacher need to contact the school to ensure their contact information is up to date, Thomas said.

To comply with Gov. Ron DeSantis' stay-at-home order instructing employees to work remotely when possible, starting Friday, school phones will not be actively answered but voicemails will be checked frequently, Thomas said.

The governor's order will not affect the operation of the 38 feeding sites the school district has opened to provide students with free breakfast and lunch.

While Thomas said most of the district's efforts seem to be working, he urged families to be patient as wrinkles are ironed out, particularly with remote learning.

"We're trying to do the best we can to protect our students, our employees and our community at this time of crisis with this virus," he said. "So be patient with us, we're going to be flexible with you, we're going to be as compassionate as we can."